3 Great Smartphone Apps for Investors

Whether you are a teacher looking for a powerful classroom tool, a new investor looking for insights into the stock market or a seasoned stock picker in search of new ideas, the right app can make a big difference. Smartphone apps for investors are getting better and better, and there are plenty of choices for everyone from the serious investor to the rank beginner. Here, in no specific order, are three of our favorite smartphone apps for investors of all ages and abilities.

#1. Stock Market Simulator

If you are looking for a powerful teaching tool for the classroom, or a way to teach your own kids about investing, the Stock Market Simulator app is a great choice. This popular app allows users to create their own stock portfolios, track their value in real time and learn some important lessons along the way.

The Stock Market Simulator app is also a great choice for adults who want to test out different scenarios. If you have always wanted to invest in individual stocks, the Stock Market Simulator can give you real insight into your level of skill, before you put any real money on the line.

#2. Acorns

If you are ready to start investing your own money but want (or need) to start small, the Acorns app belongs on your phone. Designed for the first-time investor, the Acorns lets you link to your credit or debit card. When you make a purchase, the amount is rounded up, and the extra pennies are invested into a diversified portfolio of mutual funds.

The Acorns app does two very important things for investors. First, it invests money that you will probably not miss - the electronic loose change that accompanies credit card and debit card purchases. Second, it demonstrates the power of consistent investing; showing how the dollar cost average approach can build real wealth over time, even when the initial amounts invested are quite small. If you have been meaning to start investing but putting it off, do yourself a favor and download the Acorns app.

#3. Yahoo! Finance

Yahoo! Finance is one of the most popular financial websites and for good reason. The site is extensive and comprehensive, with data on thousands of individual stocks and information on everything from dividend yield to investor sentiment. There are even message boards where ordinary investors can share information and talk about their favorite stocks.

The accompanying app is just as powerful, with a personalized interface that focuses on the holdings of each investor. Users can create their own portfolios, get updated values on the stocks they own and learn more about upcoming earnings releases, stockholder meetings and other major events. If you are an experienced investor in search of one-stop shopping, the Yahoo! Finance app is the one for you.

No matter how you slice it, the right smartphone apps can make your investing experience more fun and potentially more profitable. Whether you are a new investor just getting started or an experienced investor looking for new ideas and fresh opportunities, the apps on our list can help you.